Hydrodynamic torque transmitting device



April 3, 1962 A. c. MAMO 3, 7,

HYDRODYNAMIC TORQUE TRANSMITTING DEVICE Original Filed Aug. 22. 1955 fnz/eni'or Griz/Log C: MCU Z y' 3,027,721 HYDRODYNAMIC TORQUE TRANSMITTING DEVICE Anthony C. Marne, Des Plaines, Ill., assignor to Borg- Warner Corporation, Chicago, TIL, a corporation of Illinois Original applicatien Aug. 22, 1955, Ser. No. 529,716, now Patent No. 2,954,672, dated Oct. 4, 1960. Divided and this application Jan. 20, 1959, Ser. No. 787,943

8 Claims. ((31. 60--54) The present invention relates in general to torque transmitting devices and more particularly to hydraulic torque converters of the type adapted to multiply and transmit torque to a load from a driving engine. The improved form of hydraulic torque converter disclosed herein is particularly suitable for use with a driving engine of the type ordinarily used in automotive vehicles.

This application is a division of my co-pending application, Serial No. 529,716, filed August 22, 1955, now Patent No. 2,954,672, issued Oct. 4, 1960.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved hydraulic torque converter of the type having a plurality of vaned elements which together define a substantially toroidal fluid circuit and wherein the elements include vaned impeller means adapted to be drivingly connected with a driving engine for circulating fluid through the toroidal circuit to impart kinetic energy thereto, vaned turbine means disposed in the path of the circulating fluid for absorbing the kinetic energy from the fluid as it leaves the impeller means, and vaned stator means effective to change the direction of flow of the fluid leaving the turbine means and prior to its return to the impeller means for enabling infinite variation of torque conversion by the converter over a range varying from maximum torque conversion to minimum torque conversion which occurs when the clutch point of the converter is reached and during which condition the converter transmits torque at a substantially one-to-one ratio between the impeller means and the driven or turbine means.

More particularly, the present invention provides a hydraulic torque converter which includes, in addition to the conventional vaned impeller, turbine and stator means, multiple floater elements drivingly interconnected with each other and freely rotatable with respect to the impeller, turbine and stator means, said floater elements being effective to absorb kinetic energy at one point in the toroidal fluid circuit and give up this absorbed kinetic energy to the fluid at a different point in the toroidal circuit so as to provide the multiple advantages which will be described hereafter in the present specification.

In the improved torque converters disclosed herein, the desirable operating characteristics mentioned heretofore are obtained by using the vaned floater elements for absorbing kinetic energy at one point in the toroidal fluid circuit and giving up this kinetic energy at another point in the toroidal fluid circuit. This has the effect of deflecting the fluid at the desired point in the toroidal fluid circuit and in the desired direction in order to change the normal operating characteristics of the converter and provide the advantages outlined above.

Accordingly, it is a more specific object of the present invention to provide a hydraulic torque converter comprising a plurality of relatively rotatable elements which together define a substantially toroidal fluid circuit and which comprise impeller means for imparting kinetic energy to the fluid and effecting circulation thereof to the toroidal circuit, turbine means for absorbing kinetic energy from the fluid, stator means for redirecting the fluid in a more forwardly direction after it leaves the turbine means so as to enable torque multiplication by the conited States Patent 3,327,721 l-atented Apr. 3, 1962 verter, and, a plurality of floater devices disposed in toroidally spaced relation with respect to the impeller, turbine and stator means for absorbing energy from the fluid circuit and giving up energy to the fluid circuit at different toroidally spaced points therein and thereby deflecting the fluid from the path which it would normally take to thus alter the operating characteristics of the converter.

In another broad aspect a primary object of the present invention is to provide infinite variation, between predetermined angular limits, in the direction of flow of the fluid entering one of the impeller, turbine or stator devices for thereby infinitely variably effecting the operation of the converter.

This divisional application is directed to the use of auxiliary vaned members in a torque converter of the FIG. 1 type wherein said auxiliary vaned members displace the floater members of the FIG. 1 converter and are further interconnected with the stator member by means of a planetary gear arrangement.

The foregoing and numerous other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view through the upper half of one preferred form of hydraulic torque converter constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a modified form of torque converter wherein the vaned floater members are respectivley disposed in toroidally spaced relation on opposite sides of the stator and wherein the connecting means between the vaned floaters comprises a planetary gear set having a reaction member connected with the stator.

With reference now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals have been utilized in the different views to identify identical parts and wherein. different letters have been added to the reference numerals to identify corresponding parts in modified forms of the invention, the embodiment illustrated originally in co-pending parent application, Serial No. 529,716, filed August 22, 1955, of the present invention, Patent No. 2,954,672, will first be described.

With particular reference to FIG. 1, the hydraulic torque converter disclosed therein comprises, in general, an impeller 30, a turbine 31, a stator 32, a first floater member 33 and a second floater member 34.

The impeller 30 comprises an outer annular shell '35 having a forwardly projecting flange portion 36 adapted to be connected in any desired manner to a driving engine or motor, and the outer shell 35 is suitably secured, as by welding, to a generally radially outwardly extending flange 37 formed on the forward end of a rotatably mounted sleeve shaft 38. The impeller 30 also comprises an annular inner shell 39 which, together with the outer shell 35, rigidly supports a plurality of impeller vanes 40. Each of the impeller vanes 40 has an entrance 41 and an exit 42. Each of the impeller vanes 40 slopes or slants slightly rearwardly or reversely from its entrance 41 to its exit 42.

The turbine 31 comprises an outer shell 43 which is rigidly secured to a hub 44 suitably sp'lined on a shaft 45, as indicated generally at 46. The shaft 45 is mounted concentrically with resepct to the sleeve shaft 38 so as to maintain concentric alignment between the impeller 30 and turbine 31. The turbine 31 also comprises an inner shell 47 which, together with the outer shell 43, supports a plurality of turbine vanes 48. Each of the turbine vanes 48 has an entrance 49 and an exit 50 and it will be noted that each of the turbine blades 48, when proceeding from the entrance 49 to the exit 50, is curved, sloping or slanting generally in a forward direction near the entrance 49 and slanting in a backwardly or reverse direction near the fluid exit 50. It will be understood that fluid leaving the impeller vanes 46 through the exits 42 thereof enters the turbine 31 through the entrances 49 of the turbine blades 48.

The stator 32 comprises a shell 51 and a shell 52 which together suitably support a plurality of stator vanes 53. The shell 52 of the stator 32 is suitably secured, as by welding to a member 54 having an inwardly facing cylindrical surface 55 which comprises the outer race of a one-way engaging device 56. The one-way engaging device 56 also comprises an inner member 57 having an outwardly facing, cylindrical surface 58 which forms the inner race of the one-way engaging device 56. The races 55 and 58 are concentrically disposed with respect to each other and have a plurality of peripherally spaced tiltable sprags or eccentric gripping devices 59 disposed therebetween. The sprags 59 tilt about their individual axes in one direction to a released condition and thus enable the races 55 and 58 to rotate relatively with respect to each other. When the sp'rags 59 tilt in the opposite direction they are effective to lock up the two races. The inner member 57 is suitably splined to a sleeve shaft 60, as indicated at 61, with the shaft 60 being disposed concentrically between the shafts 45 and 38 and ordinarily secured to a stationary member. As a result, the stator 32 may rotate freely in a forward direction due to the action of the one-way engaging device 56 but whenever it tends to rotate reversely it is ordinarily held stationary.

Each of the stator vanes 53 has a fluid entrance 62 and a fluid exit 63. It will be noted that each stator blade 53 is slanted slightly reversely adjacent its entrance 62 and is slanted considerably forwardly at the fluid exit 63 and throughout a major portion of the surface of the blade 53.

The first floater member 33 is provided with a pairof shells 64 and 65 within which a plurality of first floater blades or vanes 66 are rigidly mounted. The external shell 65 is rotatably mounted on an annular member 67 which is provided with an axially extending portion 68 respectively disposed between the inner race 58 and outer race 55 of the one-way clutch 56. The portion 68 of the annular member 67 serves to hold the concentricity of the first floater member 33 with respect to the impeller 30, turbine 31 and stator 32; Each of the first floater member vanes 66 has an entrance 69 and an exit 70 respectively disposed adjacent the exit 50 of the turbine blades 48 and the entrances 62 of the stator blades 53.

The second floater member 34 comprises a pair of shells 71 and 72 for mounting a plurality of second floater vanes 74. The shell 72 is rotatably mounted on an annular member 75 which is formed with an axially extending portion 76 disposed respectively between the outer race 55 and the inner race 58 of the one-Way engaging device 56. The axially extending portion 76 maintains the concentricity of the second floater member 34 with respect to the other vaned elements 30, 31, 32 and 33 of the torque converter. Each of the vanes 74 of the second floater member 34 is provided with an entrance 77 and an exit 78.

The floater members 33 and 34, in the embodiment of the invention disclosed in FIG. 1, are rigidly connected together by means of suitable pins 79 which extend through flanged portions 80 and 81 respectively formed on the shell 64 of the first floater member 33 and the shell 71 of the second floater member 34.

The stator 32, comprising the plurality of peripherally spaced vanes 53, is held against reverse rotation by the one-way engaging device 56 and thus the fluid entering the stator 32 impinges against the forward faces of the stator vanes 53 and leaves the stator in substantially the same direction as the slope of the stator blades at their exits 63. It will be borne in mind that the fluid entering the stator vanes and impinging against the forward faces thereof, tends to drive the stator vanes 53 in a reverse .4 direction. Since the stator 32 is held stationary it acts as a reaction member and enables the hydraulic torque converter to multiply torque between the impeller vanes dd and the turbine vanes 48.

One of the principal advantages, of the many enumerated in the co-pending application, Serial No. 529,716, Patent No. 2,954,672, of the torque converter disclosed in FIG. 1 over a conventional torque converter not provided with the floating members 33 and 34 arises from the increased capacity of the torque converter disclosed herein to handle torque without substantially structurally modifying the impeller, turbine or stator in any way.

From the various embodiments of the invention disclosed in Patent No. 2,954,672, it is apparent that the angular disposition of the floater member vanes may be variable over a wide range of angles. More particularly, the invention contemplates that the limiting factor in determining the range of angular disposition of the floating member vanes, as well as the vanes of the impeller, turbine and stator, will arise from the choking effect on the fluid flowing through the vanes and encountered when a plurality of peripherally arranged vanes or blades are disposed at sharply acute angles with reference either to the direction of rotation of the vanes or to a direction degrees from the direction of rotation of the vanes. In other words, the present invention contemplates that the angular disposition of the first floater vanes may be anywhere between a direction very near to the direction of rotation of the vanes and a direction 180 degrees from the direction of rotation of the vanes. The present invention further contemplates that the second floater vanes may be angularly disposed in a similar manner.

The embodiment of the invention disclosed in this di visional application in FIG. 2 is similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, in that the first floater vanes 66k are toroidally disposed between the turbine vanes 48k and and the stator vanes 53k while the second floater vanes 74k are toroidally disposed between the stator vanes 53k and the impeller vanes 40k. The interconnecting means 79k differs from the connection 79 in the FIG. 1 form of the invention. In FIG. 2, the interconnecting means 79k comprises a planetary gear set having a planet gear carrier 91 rigidly connected to the second floater vanes 74k. A ring gear 92 is rigidly connected with the first floater vanes 66k whereas a sun gear 93 is rigidly interconnected with the stator vanes 53k. A plurality of planetary pinions 94, rotatably' mounted on the carrier 91, respectively mesh with ring gear 92 and sun gear 93 to provide a driving interconnection between the first and second floater vanes 66k and 74k. It will be apparent that as long as the torque converter shown in FIG.'2 is operating in its torque multiplication range, the stator 53k is stationary and the sun gear 93 serves as a reaction member for the planetary gear set 79k. Thus, during the torque conversion range there is a definite speed ratio between the floater vanes 66k and 74k and torque is transmitted between these floaters at a definite torque ratio during the torque conversion range.

The modification of the FIG. 1 embodiment (FIG. 2) disclosed herein functions in essentially the same manner as the FIG. 1 embodiment, with the single exception that there is a defined speed ratio between the auxiliary members.

Although a diflerent form of the FIG. 1 type converter has been disclosed herein in FIG. 2, this variation is not intended to be exhaustive, to any degree whatsoever, of the possible forms in which the present invention may be applied. Rather, the embodiment disclosed is intended primarily to be indicative of the wide scope encompassed by the present invention as set forth in the beforementioned co-pending parent application. It is therefore contemplated that numerous and extensive additional modification of the present invention may be made without departing from the spirit or scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

l. A hydraulic torque converter having a plurality of vaned elements together defining a substantially toroidal fluid circuit; all of said elements being rotatable about a common axis; said elements comprising vaned driving means for circulating the fluid through said toroidal circuit and thereby imparting kinetic energy to the fluid, vaned driven means for absorbing kinetic energy from the fluid, and vaned reaction means eflective to change the direction of flow of the fluid for enabling the conversion of torque by said converter; said elements further comprising toroidally spaced auxiliary vaned means rotatable about said axis with respect to said driving, driven and reaction means; and gearing drivingly interconnecting said toroidally spaced auxiliary vaned means and said reaction means and edective to transfer kinetic energy from one point in said toroidal circuit to another point in the circuit.

2. A hydraulic torque converter having a plurality of vaned elements together defining a substantially toroidal fluid circuit; all of said elements being rotatable about a common axis; said elements comprising vaned driving means for circulating the fluid through said toroidal circuit and thereby imparting kinetic energy to the fluid, vaned driven means for absorbing kinetic energy from the fluid, and vaned reaction means eflective to change the direction of flow of the fluid for enabling the conversion of torque by said converter; said elements further comprising toroidally spaced auxiliary vaned means rotatable about said axis with respect to said driving, driven and reaction means; and planetary gearing drivingly interconnecting said toroidally spaced auxiliary vaned means and said reaction means and efiective to transfer kinetic energy from one point in said toroidal circuit to another point in the circuit.

3. A hydraulic torque converter having a plurality of vaned elements together defining a substantially toroidal fluid circuit; all of said elements being rotatable about a common axis; said elements comprising vaned driving means for circulating the fluid through said toroidal circuit and thereby imparting kinetic energy to the fluid, vaned driven means for absorbing kinetic energy from the fluid, and vaned reaction means effective to change the direction of flow of the fluid for enabling the conversion of torque by said converter; said elements further comprising toroidally spaced auxiliary vaned means rotatable about said axis with respect to said driving, driven and reaction means; and planetary gearing comprising input and output members respectively connected with said toroidally spaced auxiliary vaned means and a reaction member connected with said vaned reaction means and eflective to transfer kinetic energy from one point in said toroidal circuit to another point in the circuit.

4. A hydraulic torque converter having a plurality of vaned elements together defining a substantially toroidal fluid circuit; all of said elements being rotatable about a common axis; said elements comprising vaned driving means for circulating the fluid through said toroidal circuit and thereby imparting kinetic energy to the fluid, vaned driven means for absorbing kinetic energy from the fluid, and vaned reaction means effective to change the direction of flow of the fluid for enabling the conversion of torque by said converter; said elements further comprising a pair of auxiliary vaned means rotatable about said axis with respect to said driving, driven and reaction means and toroidally disposed on opposite sides of said reaction means; and planetary gearing drivingly intercom necting said auxiliary vaned means and said reaction means and effective to transfer kinetic energy from one point in said toroidal circuit to another point in the circuit.

5. A hydraulic torque converter having a plurality of vaned elements together defining a substantially toroidal fluid circuit; all of said elements being rotatable about a common axis; said elements comprising vaned driving means for circulating the fluid through said toroidal circuit and thereby imparting kinetic energy to the fluid, vaned driven means for absorbing kinetic energy from the fluid, and vaned reaction means effective to change the direction of flow of the fluid for enabling the conversion of torque by said converter; and said elements further comprising a pair of auxiliary vaned means rotatable about said axis with respect to said driving, driven and reaction means, and toroidally disposed on opposite sides of said reaction means; and planetary gearing comprising input and output members respectively connected with said auxiliary vaned means and a reaction member conected With said vaned reaction means and effective to transfer kinetic energy from one point in said toroidal circuit to another point in the circuit.

6. A hydraulic torque converter having a plurality of elements together defining a substantially toroidal fluid circuit; all of said elements being rotatable about a common axis; said elements comprising impeller means having vanes for circulating the fluid through said toroidal circuit and thereby imparting kinetic energy to the fluid, turbine means having vanes disposed in the path of the circulating fluid for absorbing kinetic energy from the fluid leaving the impeller vanes, and stator means having vanes eflective to change the direction of flow of the fluid leaving the turbine means and prior to its return to said impeller means for enabling infinitely variable conversion of torque by said converter; and said elements further including a pair of toroidally spaced auxiliary vaned members having at least one of said impeller, turbine and stator means disposed therebetween; gearing drivingly interconnecting said auxiliary vaned members and said stator means for enabling the transfer of torque between said auxiliary vaned members; said auxiliary vaned members being rotatable about said axis with respect to said impeller, turbine and stator means; the flow of the fluid respectively leaving said impeller, turbine and stator vanes being infinitely variable in accordance with variations in said torque conversion between a first set of flow values corresponding to maximum torque conversion by the converter and a second set of flow values corresponding to substantially no torque conversion by the converter; each of said floater members respectively having vanes disposed in the path of the circulating fluid; whereby, for a first predetermined range of said flow values, one of said auxiliary vaned members is effective to absorb kinetic energy from the fluid which is transmitted as torque applied in one direction of rotation to the other floater member which gives up this absorbed kinetic energy to the fluid and, for a second predetermined range of said flow values, the one auxiliary vaned member is effective to absorb kinetic energy from the fluid which is transmitted as torque applied in the opposite direction of rotation to the other auxiliary vaned member which gives up this absorbed kinetic energy to the fluid.

7. A hydraulic torque converter having a plurality of elements together defining a substantially toroidal fluid circuit; all of said elements being rotatable about a common axis; said elements comprising impeller means having vanes for circulating the fluid through said toroidal circuit and thereby imparting kinetic energy to the fluid, turbine means having vanes disposed in the path of the circulating fluid for absorbing kinetic energy from the fluid leaving the impeller vanes, and stator means having vanes effective to change the direction of flow of the fluid leaving the turbine means and prior to its return to said impeller means for enabling infinitely variable conversion of torque by said converter; and said elements further including a pair of toroidally spaced auxiliary vaned members having at least one of said impeller, turbine and stator means disposed therebetween; planetary gearing having input and output members respectively connected with said auxiliary vaned members and having a reaction member connected with said stator means for enabling the transfer of torque between said auxiliary vaned members; said auxiliary vaned members being rotatable about said axis with respect to said impeller, turbine and stator means; the flow of the fluid respectively leaving said impeller, turbine and stator vanes being infinitely variable in accordance with variations in said torque conversion between a first set of flow values corresponding to maximum torque conversion by the converter and a second set of flow values corresponding to substantially no torque conversion by the converter; each of said auxiliary vaned members respectively having vanes disposed in the path of the circulating fluid; whereby, for a first predetermined range of said flow values, one of said auxiliary varied members is effective to absorb kineticenergy from the fluid which is transmitted as torque applied in one direction of rotation to the other auxiliary vaned member which gives up this absorbed kinetic energy to the fluid and, for a second predetermined range of said flow values, the one auxiliary vaned member is effective to absorb kinetic energy from the fluid which is trans mitted as torque applied in the opposite direction of rotation to the other auxiliary varied member which gives up this absorbed kinetic energy to the fluid.

8. A hydraulic torque converter having a plurality of elements together defining a substantially toroidal fluid circuit; all of said elements being rotatable about a common axis; said elements comprising impeller means having vanes for circulating the fluid through said toroidal circuit and thereby imparting kinetic energy to the fluid, turbine means having vanes disposed in the path of the circulating fluid for absorbing kinetic energy from the fluid leaving the impeller vanes, and stator means having vanes eflective to change the direction of flow of the fluid leaving the turbine means and prior to its return to said impeller means for enabling infinitely variable conversion: of torque by said converter; and said elements further in-- cluding a pair of auxiliary vaned members having said stator means toroidally disposed therebetween; planetary gearing having input and output members respectively connected with said floater members and having a reac-- tion member connected with said stator means for ena-- bling the transfer of torque between said auxiliary vaned members; said floater members being rotatable about said axis with respect to said impeller, turbine and stator means; the flow of the fluid respectively leaving said impeller, turbine and stator vanes being infinitely variable in accordance with variationsin said torque conversion between a first set of flow values corresponding to maximum torque conversion by the converter and a second set of flow values corresponding to substantially no torque conversion by the converter; each of said auxiliary vaned members respectively having vanes disposed in the path of the circulating fluid; whereby, for a first predetermined range of said flow values, one of said auxiliary vaned members is efiIective to absorb kinetic energy from the fluid which is transmitted as torque applied in one direction of rotation to the other auxiliary vaned member which gives up this absorbed kinetic energy to the fluid and, for a second predetermined range of said flow values, the one auxiliary vaned member is effective to absorb kinetic energy from the fluid which is transmitted as torque applied in the direction of rotation to the other auxiliary vaned member which gives up this absorbed kinetic energy to the fluid.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

